LUNENBURG — A Nova Scotia town has lifted water conservation restrictions originally put in place after a dam breach earlier this week.

The Town of Lunenburg says conservation efforts were helpful and significant progress was made to restore its water reserve.

The town’s drinking water supply was endangered by a breach in the Dares Lake dam earlier this week that flooded the pump station.

The Lunenburg Regional Emergency Management Organization said in its update Friday the dam was stabilized with berms and trenches diverting water away from the pumps.

The organization says two of the three pumps at the site are now functional, but not at full capacity, while a third will need to be replaced.

Lunenburg Mayor Jamie Myra says businesses have re-opened and the town has largely returned to normal operations.

Myra on Saturday said he wasn’t willing at this point to lay blame at the feet of any company or individual for the dam break.

“I just know that whatever happened wasn’t supposed to happen and we’re going to get to the bottom of it sooner or later,” he said by phone Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 5, 2026.

— By Eli Ridder in Fredericton

The Canadian Press